Mia’s story
under-12-years
Hi, my name is Mia and I live with a sister who has Autism, ADHD, ODD, GAD and Dislexia. I also live with my Dad who is going blind. My Dad has not been able to drive for a few years now which means when we are with him we will have to walk, but thankfully we are quite close to the shopping centres and parks. I find my life quite hard as my sister with her Autism can get quite angry over very small things. Sometimes she will throw a tantrum which can be embarrassing because everyone looks at her which makes her even more embarrassed and even more upset. My sister likes to be in control of everything which is annoying. My sister also finds it really hard when she doesn’t get her way. I really love my sister even though she is annoying.
– Mia, age 10
read moreCaring For Our Hero – Our Mum
under-12-years
Hi, I am Mia and I am 8 years old. My sister Lucy is 6 and we help care for our Mum.
Our Mum was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease when she was 32 and we were only 3 & 1!
Our Mum needs help every day. We help Mum by helping her to get a drink and eat food as her arms and legs don’t work very well.
We love our Mum!
– Mia and Lucy
Mia and Lucy were gift card recipients in our 2018 ‘Me And My’ National Carers Week Competition.
read more
I Help To Care For My Little Brother
under-12-years
My name is Annie and I’m 9 years old.
I help to care for my little brother Logan who has Spastic Dystonic Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy.
I help my brother with most daily activities, I help to bath him and ride his little bike, I calm him down when he gets upset and is frustrated. I love playing games with him and he loves to watch me dance. If we are out I help other people understand what he’s saying, but mostly we just love to have fun together.
I love that when I get home from school he’s so excited to see me and wants me to play with him. Logan calls me Annie Ro ? (Rose)
I love that he’s my little brother and I love watching him learn new things.
– Annie Rose
Annie was one of our gift card recipients in our 2018 ‘Me And My’ National Carers Week Competition.
read more… But I love him!
under-12-years
When my brother was born he had lots of tests and he got diagnosed with CMT, which stands for Charcot-Marie-Tooth. What this means is his nerves don’t work as well as ours do so he needs a lot of help, he needs muscle exercises and he also needs help with his speech. I sometimes find it hard that sometimes my brother gets more attention than me but I know it’s for the good of him. Every night he will lay down in bed next to me and tell me something that’s gone wrong for him at school. I love my brother a lot but I know he is different. So, my little bro doesn’t have to do chores or anything too difficult for his muscles but I love him!
– Milla, aged 9
read moreI’m a Carer for My Mother Who Has a Mental Illness
under-12-years
I am 11 years old and I’m a carer for my mother who has a mental illness. I help my mother with day to day things, such as her medications, caring for her when she is sick and doing house duties that need to be done. Although I am an only child sometimes it is not easy, so I do what I can when I can. I go out with friends whenever I can, I also like going to Sydney to visit my grandmother. When possible, I also like to go to the beach as I like swimming.
I also have a dog his name is Pepe, when I get bored I love playing with him and taking him for walks. He makes me laugh when he does funny things. I also love bike riding, playing Wii and playing with my PlayStation. I like living in Bathurst, as it is a nice community. I ride my bike to school every day expect when it is raining, in winter months it gets very cold but now I’m used to it.
– Young carer, age 11
read moreI Help Care for My Mum Who Is a Stroke Survivor
under-12-years
Hi, I’m 11 years old. I help care for my mum who is a stroke survivor.
My mum was 49 when she had her stroke, it was the last day of my holidays and we had been outside. I had been inside for a while when I heard mum making weird noises from the bathroom, I went in and found her on the floor. She couldn’t get up or talk properly. It was pretty scary and I didn’t really know what to do. Her friend came around and we called an ambulance.
Mum wasn’t in hospital for that long and she was talking and walking again soon, so I thought when we got home things would go back to normal. They haven’t though.
It is just over five months since Mum had her stroke. She tries really hard, but she forgets a lot. Mum gets really tired and can’t do as many things anymore – I have to help around the house more. When I do my homework, mum tries to help but she doesn’t really understand the questions now so I just work it out myself.
My Dad is away a lot, most of the time it is mum and I. Mum can get really mad when she forgets stuff, I know she doesn’t mean to. I try and help her remember things, writing notes and, reminding her of when it’s her turn to wash the footy jumpers or whatever.
Sometimes it is hard, but we still have fun, plus sometimes I get in trouble then mum forgets the punishment she gave me! But I love my mum and I try to make things easier for her.
– Young carer, age 11
read moreOur Dad Has a Drug and Alcohol Dependency
12-17-years
I’m 14 years old and I live with my mum and younger sister who is 9 . We care for our mum who is in a wheelchair but we also care and assist in providing emotional support for our dad who has a drug and alcohol dependency. Due to our dad’s drug and alcohol dependency it got to a serious point where he was removed from our house therefore no longer living with us but we still visit him and that’s where we still care for him. Living with a parent, family member or friend with a drug and alcohol dependency is very challenging and at times scary. My dad’s behaviour was unexpected and tended to affect not only himself but our family, neighbours and friends, causing anyone who was around him to become frightened. He often had mood swings from being really happy at one point then really angry. Most of his parental responsibilities were passed on to my sister and I. Drinking up to 3 bottles of alcohol a day he was very tired constantly wanting to sleep and sit around. Alcohol has its consequences on people unfortunately my dad got in trouble with law by drink driving and stealing, this caused us a lot of emotional stress. It is important to know that you’re not alone, that helps a lot. We are lucky that there are support services such as the Young Carer Program at Carers NSW and The Kookaburra Kids Foundation. Being a young carer is tough but the best thing about it is meeting new people along the way. I’ve had the opportunity to share my story with people at my school and other professionals. This has given me a great confidence in myself and encouraged me to keep going. Our advice is to make sure you seek help as soon as you identify a problem.
My Dad is seriously ill,
So he has to take some pills,
So it can help change his mood,
Or else sometimes he can be rude,
Most of the time he is sad,
Or just really mad,
Sometimes I wish he could,
Always be good,
Since he is an alcoholic he always wants a drink,
Does he even stop to think?
Is it because he doesn’t care?
It’s really not fair,
I wish he could get better,
And that’s why I wrote this letter!
– Young carer siblings, age 14 and age 9
read moreI’m 13 and I Care for My Little Brother
under-12-years
Hi! I’m 13 and I care for my little brother, Dylan aged 9. I have been a young carer since Dylan was diagnosed with autism when he was 2 ½. I attend singing, dancing and music lessons in my spare time. I also love to hang out with friends, play on my iPad and read books as a way to unwind. But I love my little brother more than all of those combined.
I help care for Dylan by helping my parents with household chores and keeping my brother occupied when mum and dad are busy. My mum does a lot of fundraising and awareness activities for autism in our town and I like to help her with this as it really benefits Dylan and other kids like him. I also help with some of his therapy and teaching him things that he finds challenging. He loves being with me. Though to some kids it may seem silly to spend afternoons with their siblings and helping with house work, to me it is more of a routine. Sometimes I forget that I’m a young carer because I’m so used to living this way and it’s not a big deal anymore and doesn’t seem like a chore to me.
My biggest challenge as a young carer would definitely be finding a way to explain my story to strangers or kids at school. Even though this is a challenge it is also my biggest tip for young carers living with someone with autism. By telling other people my story of being a young carer the community has become more understanding of autism and do not treat my brother differently. Another tip I would suggest is to take time for yourself. Find a hobby or activity that is just for you, to give you some time out. It can be tough having a brother with autism but it is also pretty rewarding sharing Dylan’s achievements as he has to work harder to do things we take for granted.
The best part of being in a caring role would have to be all the great people in my life. My friends, family and little brother mean the world to me. I have had the opportunity to meet some great people through programs like the Carers NSW Young Carer Program. I’m proud to say that I’m a young carer and even prouder that Dylan is my brother.
– Young carer, age 13
The Funny Thing about Mum
under-12-years
the funny thing about mum
is that some people think she’s dumb
or can’t walk
or can’t talk
or is always wearing a frown
if she heard their thoughts shed be very down.
But I love mum very much.
Gotta go I almost forgot about making mums lunch
– Young carer, age 8
read moreMy Wish
under-12-years
You worry all day
When your friends want to play
They don’t think your fun
They think you’re quite dumb
They don’t know what is like
Eveyday is an emotional hike!
Their brother’s not austic
Theirs doesn’t go belistic!
Their brothers are normal
They can attend somewhere formal
Their dads can play
Jump shout and run all day
My dad can not
His muscles go as stiff as a robot
Their dads can play fight just a little
The best my dad can do is tickle
My dad has diabeties type two
He can’t have sugar and sweets thats true
But they are the best thing in my life
Just to go home and see them not in strife
Is my wish
My wish
I would give my life for my wish
If only they could get it
If they had it my friends would wish they could forget it
Their life or my life
Their well dad to my ill one
Their brother for my brother
I would sooner rip my heart apart!
For they were my motovation from the start.
Young carer, aged 11
read moreMy twin sister
under-12-years
My name is Tayla and I am a young carer. My twin sister has has Landua Kleffner syndrome, ODD, OCD, ADD, ASD. My experience caring for my twin sister has its ups and downs. The ups are that we play together and have fun together. The down side is that she can’t always play the games I want to, she can become a bit annoying and she bugs me sometimes when I am with my friends. I sometimes wish she was like everyone else but I know thats not going to happen. I love her very much and would do anything for her (when she lets me). I sometimes feel guilty that I get angry with her because she can be a bit frustrating at times. When I clean the room, she messes it, when I want peace and quiet she never stops talking. Katelyn will always be special to me we shared a womb, now we share a room and we have the rest of our lives together. It isn’t always easy being a carer but I just think about the things I can do and she can’t. I will lover her forever even if its tough sometimes.
Thank you.
Tayla, aged 12
read more
My Twin Brother Means a Lot To Me
under-12-years
My twin brother means a lot to me because he is a special boy who never gives up. He gets rough with me in the morning but that is ok because when he’s tablets kick in he’s right for the day.
Kyle is different from everyone in our class because he has a disability. Kyle is trying to write his name and read and the best thing is that Kyle and i are in the same classroom but Kyle also has to go in another classroom and that room is called the learning center. He spends most of his time there, to work, but that is ok because i can also spend some time with myself. Kyle also has some really good friends that help him along the way, at school.
My twin brother’s favourite games are gameboys, computers and Playstations. Also at school when he is aloud he plays games on he’s laptop, and plays Zonic X and other games. Kyle makes our family special to us because he has a different personality to you our me, i think Kyle is better than any other children with his behaviour and that is why i love him.
Young Carer, aged 11
read moreHe Has Fallen Out Of His Wheelchair
under-12-years
He has fallen out of his wheelchair, there is no way I can pick him up, I have tried very hard to help him, but all I can do at this moment is get the phone and wait…
I am 11, I care for my dad, he has M.S which is short for Multiple Sclerosis. M.S is something that makes the nerves a lot slower. My dad has it in his legs, so he cannot walk, he has to stay in a wheelchair all day. Wouldn’t you hate that if your mum or dad was like that?
I am sure some of you are kinda like me, See I love my dad more than anything in the whole wide world! Sometimes I have to clean the house, always un-pack the dishwasher, take clothes off the line and loads more, but my most favourite job is cooking! I love to cook for my dad, because he loves what I cook.
Having M.S makes you a lot more angry. My grandma helps dad and I if something is to hard for me to do, like the shopping for instance. Well I think that is all for now, Bye Bye!
Young Carer, aged 11
read moreMy Family Are Deaf
under-12-years
My family means a lot to me because they all are deaf but I’m the only one in my family that is not deaf.
Lots of people think I’m lucky but I’m not because there’s nothing wrong with being deaf. Well I wish I was deaf because my sister can easily sleep through the night and so can my mum and dad. I love my family so much becase there so good to me and it makes me feel good and comfortable.
My sister’s favourite sport is swimming she has 38 gold medals and I am proud of my sister and my dad plays lawn bowls and he has 8 trophies and my mum plays tenpin bowling and she just brings prizes home for me and my sister and i play soccer and i have 6 trophies and I have 16 cross contry ribbions.
My dad is a chef and he is a good cook. My mum is a teacher and she teach sign language.
Young Carer, aged 11
read more
My sister has a disability
under-12-years
My sister has a disability. She is funny and also annoying but she is my sister and I love her. She needs help to get dressed and with lots of other things. She likes to watch me play soccer and loves the football on t.v. My sister is great and she will always be like that.
Mitchell, aged 9
read moreCaring for Dad and My Brother
under-12-years
My father has a lot of diseases. He has something wrong with his muscles and they swell when he tries to do things that he needs to do to lift drive and work. My dad not working has taken a large toll on my family as we are now living off Centrelink payments mostly (at one point we were going to move into my dad’s fathers house as we couldn’t afford the one we are in now). As if the muscle thing wasn’t bad enough my dad was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes so he can’t even eat his birthday cake 🙁 On top of all this my dad also had an anurisum in his stomach which if it popped my dad would……….pass…away. He has recently had it removed.
If these thing weren’t enough for my family to try and deal with my brother has aspergers. It makes him not be able to look people in the eye, he can’t stand loud and repeating noises, he dosen’t listen to females which means me, my sister and my mum. If he dosen’t get his way he will throw a tantrum, not like a baby tantrum but a 17 yr old tantrum. He is built so sometimes I see my mum coming out from finally getting him to do whatever he was resisting. She will sometimes have bruises or will be crying that he has hurt her.
All these things happening for me are hard and they don’t really improve in school 🙁 The school I used to go to was supposed to be a christian school but instead all the kids teased me as I was new (I started there in year 1) then I didn’t have friends so I began to eat I got a little fat everyone still teased me. This made me have low self esteem I was told “I think you need two seats there” (mind you I was 7 and I weighed 30 kg) I also got things like “you need a new shirt your fats ripping the old one” This didn’t help. Over time I got friends that didn’t tease me but………they didn’t get along, every day there was a fight 🙁 I would have to join sides it was difficult as i progressed through school I found that I didn’t know my times tables. This got me put into the dumb maths class, mind you it was ok we got the nice teacher but the kids afterwards were horrible! In reading and english I exceeded them all but now now I was a nerd. In typing I was the best but in spelling I was in level two. I left that school after they tried to send me to the school psychiatrist.
I am now at a different school. There may not be as much teasing but people think they are sooooooo good and rich, but they are not! The only thing that they are good at doing is maths and discrimination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well thank you every one I just need to tell someone that! :l
Young carer, aged 11
read more
My sister
under-12-years
Hi my name is Amie I have a younger sister her name is C*. She has several illnesses such as chromosone ring 22 disorder, cerable palsy and a lazy bowl syndrome . My life has changed a lot since my sister was born. We have made sacrifices but it is worth it knowing she is getting better everyday. This year 2008 she has started school in rural NSW. Thank you for listening to my story .
Amie, aged 11
read moreLoving You
under-12-years
When i think of the special times we share, the quiet moments we have and the closeness we feel with one another. i cant help but feel lucky to have you… you have made my life complete, by giving me something very precious… your love
– Young Carer, aged 11
read moreMy Brother has Bipolar
under-12-years
Hi my name is Tanielle. I am 9 years old and I have a brother. At first my brother was diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, and ODD. He was diagnosed with ADHD add and odd for 6 years. Now after all these years he was all of a sudden diagnosed with bipolar which my mum and I don’t know much about it so I’m finding it hard to cope with my brother.
Tanielle, aged 9
read more
Number One
under-12-years
My sister has a disability
That in itself is not rare
But why is it that people
seem to stop and stare?
My sister has a disability
Nothing strange about that
So how come people point and stare
And talk behind her back?
If they’d just stop and talk to her
They’d find she is quite smart
And fun and happy and full of love
And even quite good at art.
And you should hear her when she laughs
It makes you want to laugh along
Her giggle goes up and down to music
It’s like a little song
My sister likes going out to places
Shopping is her favourite one
She doesn’t think shopping is finished
Until the day is done
My sis has very real feelings
She IS quite emotional too
When friends pass away, she’s the first to ‘sign’
“Make a card, come on I’ll help you”
It makes me mad and angry
When people assume that she’s dumb
And I know if my sister could talk
She’d say “stick it up your… nose”
‘cos disabled people have feelings
They play sport, love to chat and have fun
I should know, my sister’s disabled,
AND SHE IS NUMBER ONE!!
– Young Carer, aged 13
My little sister
under-12-years
Hi my name is amie and i care for my little sister she has got several disabilities such as prematurity,extremely low birth weight,hyaline membrane disease, complicated by apnoeas bradycardias,chronic lung disease, hyperbilirubinaemia,patent ductus arteriosus,sepsis,retinopathy of premiturity, thrombocytosis, anaemia of prematurity and loose stool. she has been in hospital alot this is just a short version of my story.
– Amie, aged 11
read moreSis, if only you could know.
under-12-years
I listen to my sister cry,
when she crys I cry,
I dont know why,
If only people could understand the way she is doesnt matter.
When she goes down town I no people stop and stare, sis if only you could know you are always in my dreams and you will always be in my heart forever and ever…
– Young Carer, aged 12
read moreImagination is the Key
under-12-years
When a flame is lit it is so easy to be blown out. A new world yet to be discovered. A world that we create on paper through text or through picture. Our own world which we can create with anything we like with colours with no colours with heroes with princes a world noyone else can be in accept you an imagination is the key to this world.
– Young Carer, aged 11
read moreLoving B*
under-12-years
I have a 14yr old sister B* (who has Down Syndrome) and even though she may be different to the other kids, i wouldn’t change a single things about her, i mean sure, thing can get a little tough sometimes but im so lucky i have her 🙂 It hurts when people call her names or use words like ‘retard’ but i think what’s worse is when someone tricks her like last year when she had cupcakes for her birthday and a kid came up to her an said “B*, I’m your cousin, can i have one?” and she was going to give him one but i told him to get lost. But it makes me scared that people will do that and i won’t be there to stop them… I love you B* and my greatest wish is that you’re not always on the outside looking in… ♥♥♥
– Morag, aged 12
*Names have been changed
read moreMy brother has Mowat Wilson syndrome
under-12-years
My brother S* has Mowat wilson syndrome he’s also got other problems and disabilities like he cant talk and he cant walk that well & hes got a pacemaker and more. I also have 1 brother T* but when i was 9 turning 10 my cousin G* had to move in so now i have 3 brothers but G* has epilepsy aswell so that just makes it a bit worse like a couple of times if woken up at 5:00 am and seen G* having a seisure and iv had to wake everyone up.
– Young Carer, aged 10
*Names have been changed
read moreI love both of them and they love me
under-12-years
i have looked after my sister since i was able to help when i was in year 3 my baby brother was born we then found out he was death and had problems with his heart he is also deaf i think being a young carer is fine and some people don’t like my sister but i don’t care i love both of them and they love me xx
– Young Carer, aged 12
Michael – My Younger Brother
under-12-years
M is for Michael – my younger brother who was born with Global Development Delay.
I – If only everyone realised that he isn’t that different from them.
C – Contagious – Michael’s smile is contagious.
H – Hope is what I have in God for Michael.
A – Able to touch our hearts with his zest for life.
E – Easy going and care free.
L – Love is the gift He brings to our family.
– Young Carer, aged 10
read moreMy mum is my hero
under-12-years
My role as a young carer is to look after my mum. She has depression, diabetes and Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). I know what she is going through because I have depression, anxiety, mood disorder and pre diabetes. My mum is a strong and confident lady. My mum nearly died on the 14th of December 2007 due to ITP. The medication she was put on aggravated diabetes, so now she on insulin. my mum also helps to care for her mother who has been on dialysis for almost 17 years and she also has schizophrenia and when she is not looking after her mum she occasionally look after other children to give their mother a break.
My mum is my hero and I love her no matter what.
Without my mum I don’t know what to do
– Laura, aged 12
read moreFor the time being I am a young carer
under-12-years
I am a young carer. I look after my mum and older brother. My brother has a disability because he took drugs. His disability stops him from doing things that normal 23 year olds do he has not gotton his Ls yet and it really hard with him because he dosnt want to take his medication. My mum has really bad anxiety which is very hard because her mood swings are always coming. She has pains all over her body. Hopefully things will turn out fine but for the time being I am a young carer.
– Tiana, aged 12
read moreThe Truth
under-12-years
The truth, i hate it it hurts to see my mum not doing all she did before. To see mum keep going and help me make a dog house for my dog makes me proud. The truth i already know what cancer can do my brother jacob is now in heaven, the knowing, my mum wont stop fighting because of me, thats love.
– Young Carer, aged 11
read moreMy autistic brother and sister
under-12-years
Hi my name is J*. I’m 10 years old. I’ve been looking, after a disabled brother, called B*. He has really bad, autism. He screams really, loudly I really get embarrst.
My sister T*, is very smart. But can, be really annoying. She starts attacking, me. And can have, bad tanrums. Where she starts, kicking. It makes life, a bit stressful.
we don’t have much, family surport. So it’s hard to drive, long distances.Our family don’t talk that much.
– Young carer, aged 10
*Names have been changed
read moreMy little brother means…
under-12-years
My little brother means the world to me because when he was born i wanted a sybling so much !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I waited 1 to 2 weeks to take him home!
we wouldn’t of lerned sign langwige with out him. when he was little he was very good for show and tell.
he is a bit different to us, but that doesn’t mean we exclude him from anything at all!
when we go the shop alot of people stare at him or smile to sort of make us happy because they think oh the poor thing!or they say he is cute![i do not see how he is cute ha ha ha ha ha ha. ] that is why i love him !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
– Young Carer, aged 10
read moreI look after my 10 year old disabled brother
under-12-years
Hi i’m Sophie i look after my 10 year old disabled brother he has cerabal pasey which means he cant walk or talk microcephaly which pretty much means he has a small brain and is like a 2 year old and also has fits. its very hard a home he needs care 24/7 he gets feed through a button in his stomach. but he is my best friend people often stare when we go places its really hard but its life. I’m new to this website and excited thanks
– Sophie, age 12
read more